Vegas Uncork'd Presented by Bon Appetit Wraps Up Its Fourth Annual Culinary Extravaganza

LAS VEGAS, May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Vegas Uncork'd Presented by Bon Appetit, sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and held Thursday, May 6 through Sunday, May 9, featured new events, new chefs and a diverse and richly enhanced program. The wildly successful, four-day extravaganza represented the ultimate who's who in the food world while celebrating the status of Las Vegas as an international gastronomic destination.

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"I was thrilled with the quality of the events and with the turnout for this year's Vegas Uncork'd Presented by Bon Appetit, our biggest ever," said Bon Appetit Editor-in-Chief Barbara Fairchild. "For me, it's always such a pleasure to talk to our guests.  I'm already thinking about how to make next year's event – our fifth anniversary – even more spectacular!"

A VIP kickoff reception at miX Restaurant and Lounge at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay on Thursday, May 6 brought together what might represent the most powerful collection of chef talent ever assembled in one place. Joining celebrity chefs such as Akira Back, Bobby Flay, Jean Joho, Hubert Keller, Bradley Ogden, Charlie Palmer and Julian Serrano, were four of the most decorated French chefs in the world: Guy Savoy, Joel Robuchon, Pierre Gagnaire and Alain Ducasse. All of these chefs reflect Las Vegas' increasing international flavor.

"Vegas Uncork'd is truly a national culinary event with a growing international profile," said Cathy Tull, senior vice president of marketing, LVCVA. "Most people who attend the weekend's events come here from other cities across the country, with many coming from Canada or as far away as Asia to participate."

Two popular returning Vegas Uncork'd events charted notable milestones:  Friday's Grand Tasting at Caesars Palace's Garden of the Gods pools boasted more restaurants (56), chefs (75), and wines (over 100) than ever before, while drawing approximately 2,300 attendees, up 27 percent from last year. Additionally, Chef Hubert Keller performed an Uncork'd "first" when he took to the Fiji Water-sponsored DJ booth and spun records for an hour during the event.

Later that night, Chef Paul Bartolotta of Bartolotta Ristorante di Mare at Wynn Las Vegas racked up his third straight victory at the Celebrity Chef Blackjack Tournament held poolside at Encore Las Vegas. This year's field included actress Laura Prepon and Bon Appetit Executive Chef Cat Cora and chefs Bobby Flay, Pierre Gagnaire, Shawn McClain, Rick Moonen, Bradley Ogden, Charlie Palmer, Francois Payard, Joel Robuchon and David Walzog.

Innovative new program additions in 2010 included the after-hours Shinkansen to Shibuya event on Thursday, an electric celebration of contemporary, urban Japanese culture. With the restaurant transformed into a spectacular rendition of Neo-Tokyo, revelers sampled countless sakes while enjoying freshly prepared sushi and fare from a teppanyaki bar while Japanese-style go-go dancers grooved to the high-energy dance beats spun by a Japanese DJ.

Also new to this year's roster of events, Saturday night's Fashion Feast: A Delicious Evening of Style and Taste at Bellagio featured fashion sponsor FENDI presenting a dazzling runway show pairing fashion with cuisine prepared by Bellagio's stellar collection of chefs: Jean-Marie Auboine, Todd English, Michael Mina, Julian Serrano and David Werly. Fashion-forward Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir and Bon Appetit Executive Chef Cat Cora served as the evening's co-emcees. Dressed in a stunning, tangerine-colored FENDI frock, Cora was positively radiant, proving she can be equally at home on the catwalk as in the kitchen. Vegas Uncork'd Presented by Bon Appetit is grateful to FENDI, which in a show of support to the local community, pledged to donate 10 percent of the weekend's sales to Vegas Uncork'd partner, the Three Square Food Bank.

Meanwhile, Better by the Bay at Mandalay Beach, presented by chefs Charlie Palmer of Mandalay Bay's Aureole and Alain Ducasse of miX at THEhotel, featured a sumptuous presentation highlighting the seafood traditions of both France and the United States. Aureole's Master Sommelier William Sherer selected a wine program that provided the perfect complement to the evening, where steady breezes circulated the fragrant aromas of an authentic beachside barbecue.

Another notable new addition to this year's program was Friday's intimate Masters' Series Luncheons. The legendary Wolfgang Puck hosted 100 guests at his restaurant CUT, and Joachim Splichal (Pinot Brasserie) and Piero Selvaggio and Luciano Pellegrini (Valentino) rounded out the series at The Venetian/Palazzo, which came aboard this year as the event's sixth and newest resort partner.

"Once again, Vegas Uncork'd has demonstrated its appeal to the uber-foodie and the luxury traveler alike," concluded Rob O'Keefe, executive director, Vegas Uncork'd Presented by Bon Appetit. With our strategy of managed growth and the addition of new partners, chefs and restaurants to the mix, we continue to serve up an epicurean experience that showcases Las Vegas as the world's most exciting culinary destination."

Plans are already under way for next year's Vegas Uncork'd Presented by Bon Appetit, which is scheduled to take place May 5-8, 2011.

ABOUT VEGAS UNCORK'D PRESENTED BY BON APPETIT:  Vegas Uncork'd Presented by Bon Appetit is produced in partnership with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and is a unique, four-day culinary extravaganza featuring 30 intimate luncheons, dinners, tastings and other immersive and entertaining culinary experiences. Its six partner resorts comprise Bellagio, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Wynn | Encore and The Venetian | The Palazzo  and is made possible by sponsors Travelocity, Infiniti, Samsung and other national brands. Among the famous names joining Bon Appetit magazine Editor-in-Chief Barbara Fairchild at this year's events are chefs Paul Bartolotta, Cat Cora, Alain Ducasse, Todd English, Bobby Flay, Joel Robuchon, Wolfgang Puck and many more.   www.VegasUncorked.com.

ABOUT Bon Appetit Magazine

Bon Appetit magazine celebrates the world of great food and the pleasure of sharing it with others. Every issue engages over 8 million readers in a hands-on experience regarding all aspects of the epicurean lifestyle—cooking, dining out, wine and spirits, travel, entertaining, shopping, and kitchen design. Both creative inspiration and practical guide, Bon Appetit delivers just the right mix of sophistication and accessibility, indulgence and simplicity—and quality.

Bon Appetit is published by Conde Nast, a division of Advance Publications, which operates in 25 countries and is the world leader in exceptional content creation. Please visit http://www.bonappetit.com.

ABOUT THE LVCVA

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center.  With approximately 148,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and more than 10 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA mission centers on attracting everincreasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area.  For more information, go to www.lvcva.com or www.VisitLasVegas.com.

SOURCE Vegas Uncork'd